Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Written on 20 August 2010.

WHAT IS THE CALIFORNIA MUSIC AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION?

The California Music and Culture Association (CMAC) is a membership-based trade association made up of venue owners and operators, industry professionals, artists, and fans dedicated to the preservation and enrichment of music and culture in the State of California. CMAC aims to both preserve and foster safe and positive environments that support our state’s valued music, culture, and entertainment industries. CMAC and its members consist of:

Advocates for responsibility and accountability. As advocates for effective entertainment regulations and safe neighborhoods, CMAC educates its members about existing policies, compliance measures, and proactive good neighbor practices.

Standard bearers of California’s values. The Golden State’s historical nightlife promotes culturally diverse music and embraces collective belonging, thus reinforcing that there is something for everyone.

Drivers of economic development. The entertainment industry is a significant job generator, tourist attraction, and tax revenue source for vital city and state services.

WHY WAS CMAC FORMED?

CMAC’s founding members determined that there is a void in the political and media dialogues surrounding entertainment issues that needs to be filled. CMAC formed with the goal of supporting a vibrant and dynamic music, culture, and entertainment community that protects its heritage for active and safe entertainment through educational efforts, collective identity, and unified political advocacy. To put it simply, CMAC wants to Ensure The Music Never Stops.

Many sectors of the hospitality industry are organized - there are restaurant associations, bar associations, hotel associations, and tourist and convention bureaus, but nothing for music and cultural venues - until now. Why should entertainment and music venues be any different?

HOW IS CMAC FUNDED?

CMAC is a membership-based, non-profit 501(c)(6) trade association and is funded through membership dues and donations. Music, culture, and entertainment are not one size fits all. CMAC’s diverse membership includes venue owners and operators, industry professionals, suppliers, tradesmen, insurance specialists, security companies and personnel, artists, and fans of the industry.

HOW DOES ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?

The entertainment industry positively impacts local economies in many ways and therefore should be protected and encouraged to flourish. The industry includes more than just restaurants and clubs - it incorporates concerts, street fairs, bars and lounges, restaurants, and retail stores.

The music and culture industry boosts tourism, provides jobs, generates tax revenue, and propels spending in other industries, and not in a small way. A 2004 Audience Research and Analysis study found that the New York City nightlife industry generated $9.7 billion in economic activity, $2.6 billion in earnings, and 95,500 jobs. It also concluded that the entertainment industry contributed an estimated $391 million in tax revenues to the city and an additional $321 million to New York State. Though a comparable economic impact study has not been commissioned for California, the statewide restaurant industry employed 1.3 million people at 86,310 locations with collective annual sales of $51.5 billion in 2005. The Golden State’s restaurant industry sales were by far the largest of any state, being more than 75% greater than second- ranked Texas, and more than twice as large as third-ranked New York, providing a good indicator of nightlife’s contributions to our communities’ economies.

WHAT IS CMAC’S STANCE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND VIOLENCE?

CMAC is extremely engaged on the issue of public safety and believes it is crucial to educate clubs and venues on their responsibilities for safety and security. For these reasons, CMAC’s mission is to preserve and enhance safe environments so that music and culture may thrive.

In regards to specific violent occurrences, it is unfortunate that a "bad apple" can spoil the reputation of an industry that overwhelmingly employs responsible business practices and supports safe venues for entertainment. Youth violence is not a nightlife problem, it is a community problem that must be holistically addressed and remedied by the city family in conjunction with the greater community.

DOES CMAC PLAN TO WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT?

Education, constructive communication, and collaboration are three of CMAC’s guiding principles. It is imperative that all interested parties come together to address real, sustainable and implementable solutions. CMAC looks forward to working with the Police Department, the Fire Department, the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control, and elected officials to set up a balanced system of rules, best practice standards, and monitoring that will assist everyone going forward.

WHAT IS CMAC’S VIEW OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION?

The Entertainment Commission is doing everything in its power to mitigate the behavior of "problem" operators. CMAC commends City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Board President David Chiu for their leadership in calling for legislation to increase the power of the Entertainment Commission to issue permits and regulate venues, including the ability to shut down unlawful clubs. This will be a crucial step towards ensuring incidents like what happened at Suede Nightclub in February do not occur again.

WHY IS CMAC A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION?

Though the municipality may change, the permitting process venue owners endure and the issues facing fans of the industry stay the same. CMAC’s founding chapter is located in San Francisco.